Neil Finn and Crowded House deliver unforgettable Auckland concert experience

Crowded House performing at Auckland's Spark Arena last night. Photo / Chontalle Musson

REVIEW

There’s nothing quite like watching an expert share their craft.

Seeing a band with decades of experience being so at home on stage in front of a crowd of thousands.

Witnessing first-hand how music is meant to be played (and heard).

It’s not every weekend I get to see legends of Australasia’s music scene perform live in front of bubble gum-coloured sky wiggles and the Tino Rangatiratanga, but for Crowded House, playing at one of the country’s biggest venues looked as natural as a weekend band practice with the boys.

The light, easy nature of their relationship shone from the jump, when they entered the stage at Auckland’s Spark Area to a circus-themed track with lanterns in tow.

“I’ve gotta turn my light off so I can preserve my battery because we’re going up Rangitoto tonight to camp,” Neil Finn joked with the audience after their first song.

Crowded House took to the stage with lanterns in tow. Photo / Chontalle Musson

While the faces on stage may have changed, the Aria Hall of Fame-inducted band’s music felt just as powerful as ever.

Crowded House, which originally included the late Paul Hester, Nick Seymour and briefly, Finn’s brother Tim, still features Seymour, as well as the band’s original producer Mitchell Froom, and now Finn’s two sons Liam and Elroy.

“I feel very blessed to be amongst you and to be in Auckland, and I aim to be spending some good summer months here,” Finn told the crowd.

A few songs in, my personal favourite, Fall at Your Feet, evoked the first real moment of collective awe.

After performing the song as a band, the mic was turned to the audience, who joined Finn in an acoustic rendition.

There was an even mix of old-school classics – Mean to Me and World Where You Live, etc – as well as a few tracks from their 2024 album Gravity Stars, including Teenage Summer.

During one interlude, Finn spoke of the inspiration behind one of their new hits, Night Song.

“I was awake at three in the morning at a hotel on Hollywood Boulevard and as I was wondering ... suddenly there was this amazing soliloquy coming from outside and it was a street guy, and he was just actually filling the night with all this amazing stuff. He inspired me.”

Throughout the performance, Finn brought us into the band’s sphere with constant banter, and light ribbing.

“We all want to have the last word – that’s what happens over a long tour, you just want to have the last word. You’ll notice Liam is jumping in on quite a few of the last notes,” Finn said.

In response, Liam said: “Just living my best life, Dad.”

“Can’t argue with that. It’s all I could hope for you, son.”

The crowd was relatively subdued for most of their set – there were times when I wanted to shake everyone to their feet, as the high level of energy coming from the stage was met with a muted reception.

Crowded House at Spark Arena. Photo / Chontalle Musson

However, about an hour in, a few battlers on the ground floor formed a mosh pit by the stage, and by the time the band played Four Seasons in One Day, half the audience was standing.

When Don’t Dream it’s Over came on, almost everyone was dancing to the anthem.

“It’s only how you begin and how you end that matters – it’s an analogy that’s true of all life,” Finn told the crowd.

Remaining Gravity Stairs Tour Australian and New Zealand dates:

• Friday, November 29: Perth – Kings Park & Botanic Garden
• Wednesday, December 4: Sydney – Opera House Forecourt
• Thursday, December 5: Sydney – Opera House Forecourt
• Tuesday, December 10: Melbourne – Rod Laver Arena
• Friday, December 13: Newcastle – Entertainment Centre
• Saturday, December 14: Brisbane – Entertainment Centre

Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who usually covers social issues including sexual assault, workplace misconduct, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020.